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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> Kentucky >> The Bee Whisperer – Kentucky tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Bee Whisperer – Kentucky

Images of my friend Mike wranglin’ bees – Western Kentucky, taken in October 2022.

After missing out on a visit in April of 2020, I can’t remember why, I finally made it to Paducah Kentucky to visit my Shell Oil Houston friends Mike and Camy. They are now retired and semi-retired, respectively, and enjoying their time in the heartland.

We spent a few days looking at old pictures and reminiscing about the good ole days in the sweltering Texas sun; and truth be told, it was usually sweltering whether the sun was out or not. One evening while having dinner at a local pizza place, some people from the table next to us recognized Mike for his bee keeping skills, and before they left, they secretly paid for our dinner. Now I was supposed to buy that night so I was obviously happy but more importantly it was now clear to me that Mike was actually a Paducah celebrity! And that knowledge perfectly set up what we were scheduled to do the following day.

We headed out the next morning to Love Shack Farms (named after the famous B-52’s song), donned a pair of bee suits and as Mike went through the paces of checking on his beehives I snapped away on my camera and soaked up all, or at least some, of the knowledge that my bee whisperer friend was imparting upon me. It was fascinating; more so because I was seeing it first hand and because I never envisioned myself in such close proximity to so many bees.

It was quite an experience, and for those who ponder where the picture of me in a bee suit is, well, you’ll have to wait for my year end 2022 ‘Interesting Stuff Along the Way’ (ISAW) gallery…
Love Shack Farms, location of Mike’s bee colonies
Love Shack Farms, location of Mike’s bee colonies 		Mike checks his notes from the back of his truck before working his hives
Mike checks his notes from the back of his truck before working his hives		 Opening up one of the hives above the queen excluder using a hive tool
Opening up one of the hives above the queen excluder using a hive tool		 Mike uses a smoker to calm the hive
Mike uses a smoker to calm the hive		 Checking a frame in one of the hives
Checking a frame in one of the hives
Beehive (bee box) viewed from above
Beehive (bee box) viewed from above		 Closeup of bees on the frames of an open beehive
Closeup of bees on the frames of an open beehive		 Mike checks a frame to attempt to locate the queen
Mike checks a frame to attempt to locate the queen		 A large cluster of bees on a beehive frame
A large cluster of bees on a beehive frame		 Looking into the top of an open beehive
Looking into the top of an open beehive
Mike uses a J Hook hive tool to lift a frame from the beehive
Mike uses a J Hook hive tool to lift a frame from the beehive		 Checking the activity on a beehive frame
Checking the activity on a beehive frame		 The larger queen bee in a bee cluster
The larger queen bee in a bee cluster		 The queen bee stands out in the cluster
The queen bee stands out in the cluster		 Burr comb on the top of frames in an open beehive
Burr comb on the top of frames in an open beehive
Mike lifts a bee box off of the hive
Mike lifts a bee box off of the hive		 Closeup view of the bee proboscis as the bee eats honey from the comb
Closeup view of the bee proboscis as the bee eats honey from the comb		 Mike bags pieces of the comb that have been scraped from the top of the beehive frames
Mike bags pieces of the comb that have been scraped from the top of the beehive frames		 Closeup of a bee working the comb
Closeup of a bee working the comb		 Mike calms the bees by using a smoker on the open beehive
Mike calms the bees by using a smoker on the open beehive
An Individual bee isolated on a cluster
An Individual bee isolated on a cluster		 Mike uses a J Hook hive tool to lift a frame from the beehive
Mike uses a J Hook hive tool to lift a frame from the beehive		 Bee activity on an individual beehive frame
Bee activity on an individual beehive frame		 Mike inspects a beehive frame
Mike inspects a beehive frame		 Closeup of bees in a cluster
Closeup of bees in a cluster
Bees cluster on a beehive frame
Bees cluster on a beehive frame		 A grouping of bees on top of a frame
A grouping of bees on top of a frame		 Goldenrod in the field where Mike works one of his apiaries
Goldenrod in the field where Mike works one of his apiaries		 A second apiary location at Love Shack Farms
A second apiary location at Love Shack Farms		 Closeup of bees on a cluster
Closeup of bees on a cluster
Smoke being applied to an open beehive using a bee smoker
Smoke being applied to an open beehive using a bee smoker		 Mike inspects a beehive frame
Mike inspects a beehive frame		 Capped or sealed brood frame of honey ready for harvest
Capped or sealed brood frame of honey ready for harvest		 Bees work the brood chamber
Bees work the brood chamber		 Bees work the brood chamber
Bees work the brood chamber
Closeup of bees on top of a bee cluster
Closeup of bees on top of a bee cluster		 Larvae and eggs seen in cells of the brood chamber with some cells covered
Larvae and eggs seen in cells of the brood chamber with some cells covered		 Bees working in the brood chamber
Bees working in the brood chamber		 Tools and equipment of the beekeeping trade
Tools and equipment of the beekeeping trade		 A bee smoker casts a long shadow on a sunny Kentucky morning
A bee smoker casts a long shadow on a sunny Kentucky morning

comment | share
Greg Temple 13-Oct-2022 02:41
Great images! I can almost hear the humming from here!
joseantonio11-Oct-2022 14:52
very nice document.V.
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